Wire-stitcher.



H. WEBER.

WIRE STITGHER.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1911.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

llllllillllllll llillli H. WEBER.

WIRE STITGHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1911.

1,074,564. Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-1133! 2.

IHUIIHIIUIII 42 Wfgssges: 43

H. WEBER.

WIRE STITGHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.16, 1911.

1,074,564, Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. WEBER.

WIRE STITGHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1911.

' Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IIED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY WEBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LATHAM MACHINERY COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

. WIRE-STITCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 36, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY WEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stitchers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to wire stitching or stapling machines of the class shown in my United States Letters Patent 683,821 and 683,823, issued October 1, 190-1, and the improvements have reference to various parts of the machine, but more especial reference to the wire feeding mechanism, including the devices for advancing the wire toward the cutter, for straightening the wire as it comes from the spool or from the tension device, and for properly unreeling and guiding the wire between the spool and the straightener.

The invention has for its primary object to provide an improved wire stitching or stapling machine embodying one or more of these features, which shall be simple in construction and efficientin operation.

The invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings-F'igure 1 is a face view or front elevation of the upper portion of a wire stitching machine embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the slide or carriage which carries the wire feeding dog; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section thereof on a line 33 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective section of a drag or friction block and its associated parts used in connection with the wire feeding dog; Fig. 5 is a detail face view of the wire feeding dog; Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 66 Fig. 3;-Fig. 7 is a plan section of the wire straightening device taken on the line 77 Fig. 8; Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the same taken on the line 88 Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9 Fig.

- 1; Fig. 10 is a detail plan section of the wire check dog showing also an adjustable stop for the feed dog carriage hereinafter described; Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the spool and its brace; Fig. 12 is a detail section on the line 12-12 Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a detail face view of the wire guide and tension device broken away; Fig. 14 is an enlarged transverse section thereof on the line 14-44 Fig. 13; Figs. 15 to 22, both inclusive, are illustrations of a modified form of wire feeding dog and associated parts; Fig. 15 being a face viewthereof; Fig. 16 a transverse section on the line 16-16 Fig. 15; Fig. 17 a transverse section on the line 17-17 Fig. 15; Fig. 18 a detail face view of the wire feeding dog carriage with the dog and operating parts removed; Fig. 19

is a detail perspective view of a guide; Fig. 20 a similar view of the feed dog; Fig. 21 a face view of a cam showing the same in the position it assumes when the dog is clevated;'and Fig. 22 a similar View showing the position of cam when the dog is depressed.

The improvements constituting this invention are shown as being adapted to that type of wire stitching or stapling machine in which the feed dog is given its feeding movement by an oscillating lever 23, which derives motion at the proper time from a cam 24 of usual form well understood in the art. The feed dog, which is indicated at' 25, is usually mounted upon a slide or carriage 26, which is supported and guided by ways or rods 27-28, the back of the slide being provided with a pin 29 engaging in a slot 30 in the lever 23 as usual. The slide 26 is provided with a suitable wire support or seat 31 and wire guides 32, over which seat and through which guides the wire 33 passes on its way to the cutter block 34. as usual having any suitable cutter 35 preparatory to being introduced into the staple forming and driving mechanism not necessary to describe. The slide 26 at a point in line with the guide rod 28 is also formed with a recess 36 in which is situated a block 37 which is also pierced by rod 28 and is adapted to slide thereon with the slide or carriage 26, but which is of less length than the recess 36, whereby the slide is capable of a limited movement independently of the block 37, and the block is provided with any suitable means for causing it to lag on the rod 28, so that as the slide 26 moves back and forth it will always have an initial movement independent of the block equal to the difference in length between the block and the recess, so that by connecting the dog 25 with the block 37, the dog being in this form pivoted at 38 t0 the slide 26, the toothed or serrated face 39 of the dog will be moved up and down with relation to the wire seat 31, thereby causing the dog to alternately grip and release the wire as the slide 26 moves back and forth. Thus as the slide 26 moves to the right when viewed as in Fig. 1, the serrated face of the dog will be turned downwardly into firm engagement with the wire and the latter thereby unreeled and projected through the cutter block 34 as usual, and as the slide 26 commences its return movement the pivotal point 38 of the dog will be carried backwardly, while the lower end of the dog will be caused to lag by the bloek37, and consequently will be lifted away from the wire, thereby positively releasing it fromthe wire without danger of clinging thereto and causing the wire to bend or make the least retrograde movement. As a suitable means of causing the block 37 to thus lag on the rod 28, the

block is provided with a socketed extension 40 in which is arranged a small friction shoe 41, engaging the rod28 under the lIlfltlIlCG of a spring 42 held in place in the socket by a screw or plug 43. The extension 40 also serves as a means of connecting the block 37 with the lower end of the dog 25, which latter is formed with an aperture 44 through which the extension 40 projects, and which is elongated in the direction which the extension moves with relationto the dog as the dog swings on itscenter 38 while the extension moves in a strictlyhorizontal direction.

As the wire is unreeled by the advancing movement of the dog 25 and then released it is held against retrograde motion by a wire check device comprising a check dog 45, wire seat 46 and a pawl 47 for holding the dog 45 against turning in a retrograde direction. The dog 45 is preferably in the form of a spur wheel whose teeth are presented to the wire 33 and to the pawl 47 which is in the form of a flat spring suitably secured to a support 48, thus making a simple and efficient wire check whose dog moves always in one direction,

The support 48 is secured to or formed on a bracket 49 which may be a part of or secured to frame member 50, and in this bracket 49 is arranged an adjustable stop 51 for limiting the return movement of the slide 26, said stop being screw threaded in the bracket 49 with one end projecting therethrough at one side so as to be accessible to the operator for adjustment, and at the other side for engagement with the slide 26, the latter side being enlarged and recessed to receive a hardened button 52. The guide rods 27-28 are also supported in the bracket 49 at one end. At this end they are inserted in suitable sockets in the bracket fwhu their opposite ends pass through a fixed bracket 53 on'framemempulled through the bracket or plate 53 and:

the slide 26 thereby released for repairing or inspection. 7

Before the wire-reaches the check dog 45 it encounters a wire straightener, the purpose of which is to deprive the 'wire of its tendency to curl which is induced by the .winding thereof upon the spool. WVire straighteners'at this point are not new in the art, but the one which is preferably employed in this machine and constitutes a part of this invention is of the novel construction specifically illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawing The wire '33 in being straightened passes through an eye 54 (see Fig. 7) formed in ashank 55, which may be so adjusted by means of a button 56 as to bendthe wire in the reverse direction of the curvature receivedfrom winding 15 uponthe spool. This shank has a stem 57 which passes through a vertical transverse slot 58 in a cylindrical stud 59, secured to the bracket 49, and this stem 57 also passes through registering perforations in a cup or cylinder 60, rotatably mounted on the stud 59, the stem being held against withdrawal by'means of pin 61, or other suitable device' This permits the cup'or cylinder 60 to be rotated to a limited degree on the stud 59,-but prevents it from being withdrawn longitudinally. By means of the button 56 the shank 55 may be rotated on its own axis to subject the wire to a sul'licient bendingaction, and itmay also be rotated about the axis of the stud 59 to raise seat 46, as maybe required. When the desired position for the shank is found it may be locked in place against both oscillatory and rotary motion by means of a clamping screw 62, screw threaded in the end of cup 60 and impinging against the'end of the stud 59, or by any other suitable means.

As the wire comes from the spool, which is shown at 63,, itusually passes through a guide before arriving at the wire straight- ,ener. This guide ordinarily consists of a tube suitably curved to receive and direct the wire, but inasmuch as the wire unreels alternately from opposite ends of the spool,

the tube creates undue friction against ,the'

wire excepting at the time when the wire is substantially in directline therewith. In order to provide an effective wire guide and.

overcome these objections, a bowed plate or arm 64 is employed'as a means of affording a curved surface for the wire to run on, and thefaee'of this plate or arm is provided with loops 65-66, which [are grade uated in size as shown in Fig. 13, and ex;

Lisa

105 or lower the wire with relation to the wlre its stud 68 by means of a spring 71, which is coiled upon the stud and has an intermediate loop 7 2 secured to the arm by screw 73 or other suitable means, while the two, extremities of this spring engage with; a cross bar 7 4 formed on or secured to an arm 7 5, carrying a brake shoe 7 6 which engages the flanges of the spool 63, the extremities of the cross bar 74: having ears 77 journaled on the stud 68 so that the arm 64 and brake are independently pivoted on the stud and are both given a normal tendency to move upwardly by the spring, the elasticity of the brake being utilized continually for preventing the too free unreeling of the wire while that of the arm 64 is utilized for enabling the latter to yield as the wire is rapidly drawn forth by the feed dog 25.

In the modified form of feed mechanism shown in Figs. 15 to 22 the feed dog is in the form of a reciprocating block or shoe 78, arranged between suitable guides 79 and having tongues 80, engaging in slots 81 in such guides. These guides are formed on a block 82, having eyes 83 for the wire, which is impinged by the shoe 7 8 as it passes over the upper edge of the block 82, as before described. The back of the shoe 7 8 is provided with a pin 84 which engages in a slot 85, formed in a disk 86 pivoted on a stud 87, suitably secured to the slide 26. The disk 86 is also provided with a crank pin 88 projecting through a slot 89 on the slide 26*, and carrying a bearing block 90 over which fits the bifurcated end of the feed lever 23, so that as the lever oscillates in one direction it rotates the disk 86 accordingly, while at the same time pushing the slide 26 in the direction of such rotation. This rotation of course either raises or lowers the dog or shoe 7S, and thereby either impinges or releases the wire. l/Vhen moving toward the right, as in Fig. 15, the action of the lever 23 and the described parts forces the disk 86 into the position shown in Fig. 22, thereby lowering the pin 84 by the action of the inclined slot 85, this lowering action taking place before the slide 26 commences to move. The feeding action having been completed, the disk 86 will be rotated in the reverse direction into the position showh in Fig.21 during the initial movement of the lever 23 for releasing the dog or shoe 7 8 before the slide 26- starts its return movement. In order to insure the movement of the dog or shoe 7 8 in advance of the movement of the slide, suitable means may be provided for increas ing the friction of the slide on its guide rods 27- 28, whereby the slide will be given a. slight tendency to lag. For this purpose the lower part of the slide may be formed with a socket 91 for receiving a spring 92, which is held against the rod 28 by adjustable plug 93.

I claim:

1. In -a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a wire feed dog, a wire seat associated therewith for supporting the wire while gripped thereby, and

-with reference to which seat the dog has a limited movement independently thereof; and driving means for moving the dog and wire seat together in the feeding direction of the wire, and a dog actuating means for moving the dog with relation to said seat to cause it to grip the wire.

2. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a wire feed dog, a wire seat associated therewith for supporting the wire while gripped thereby and with reference to which seat the dog has a limited movement independently thereof; driving means for moving the dog and wire seat together in the feeding direction of the wire, and a dog actuating means for moving the dog with relation to said seat to cause it to grip the wire, operatively related to the said driving means.

3. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a wire feed dog, a wire seat associated therewith for supporting the wire while gripped thereby and with reference to which seat the dog has a limited movement independently thereof; driving means for moving the dog and wire seat together in the feeding direction of the wire; and feed dog actuating means for positively moving the dog with relation to its seat to cause it to approach and recede from the wire.

4. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a wire feed dog, a wire seat associated therewith for supporting the wire while gripped thereby and with reference to which seat the dog has a limited movement independently thereof; a slide supporting said dog and seat, driving means for moving said slide back and forth, and an adjustable stop arranged to be impinged by the slide for limiting its movement in one direction.

5. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a wire feed dog for gripping the wire, a slide for supporting said dog, driving means for moving said slide back and forth, a frame, and guiding means for said slide removably supported upon the frame.

6. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of means for gripping the wire to cause it to feed, a slide supporting said gripping means, a frame provided with a flange or projection, guiding means for said slide removably supported at one endupon the frame and having the other end passing through said flange or projection, whereby the guiding means may be withdrawn with relation to the frame and the slide removed, means for holding the said guiding means against withdrawalthrough said flange, and means for moving the slide back and forth on its guiding means.

7. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of means for gripping the wire to cause it to feed, a slide for supporting said gripping means, means for moving the slide back and forth, guide rods upon which said slide is slidably supported, means for removably supporting said guide rods embodying sockets for receiving the-guide rods at one end and a per forated flange for receiving the guide rods at the other end, and through which flange the guide rods are capable of being withdrawn, and means for holding the said guide rods against withdrawal when in use.

8. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of means for gripping the wire to cause it to feed, a slide for supporting the gripping means, means for moving the slide back and forth, a frame, guide rods removably held at one end by said frame, said frame embodying a flange or projection through which the guide rods are inserted at the other end,-and a cutter block removably held adjacent said flange for preventing the guide rods from being withdrawn While in use.

9. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of means for gripping the wire to cause it to feed, driving means for moving the gripping means back and forth, and a wire straightener embodying a member having an ye through which the wire passes, said member being rotatable upon its own axis and also oscillatory, whereby the wire may be moved rotarily about the axis of said, member and also rotarily about the axis of oscillation of said member, and means for locking said member against said movements.

10. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of means for gripping the wire to cause it to feed, means for moving said gripping means back and forth, a wire straightening means embodying a stud provided with a transverse slot, a collar rotatably mounted in said stud, a shank having an eye for the passage of the wire and provided with means projecting through said slot and supported by said collar, and means for locking the collar with relation to the stud.

11. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of means for gripping the wire to cause it to feed, means for moving the wire gripping means back and binding the cup and stud together to lock said stem against rotary and oscillatory movements. 7

12. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of means for supporting the wire spool, means for gripping the wire to cause it to feed, means for moving the wire gripping means back and forth, and a curved wire guide situated between the spool supporting means and said means for gripping the wire, embodying a curved plate and a loop mounted thereon and elongated in a direction transverse to the line of movement of the wire, for receiving the wire and retaining the same upon the face of said plate. r V

13. In a machine for the purpose dea scribed, the combination of means for supporting thewire spool, means for imparting movement to the wire in a feeding direction, a guiding means situated between said spool supporting means and means for imparting movement to the wire, embodying acurved plate and a series of-loops graduated in size and elongated in a direction transverse to the line of movement of the wire for receiving the wire as it passes over the face of said plate.

14. The combination with a reciprocatory support, of aseat carried by said support, a dog pivoted above said seat, the free. terminal of said dog being located adjacent to said seat, a secondary slide secured to the free terminal of said dog and operable inde pendently of said main slide when applying an initial force to said mainslide, thereby arrest-ing the movement of said secondary slide and dog.

15. 'The combination with a pair ofsupporting members, a main slide mounted for reciprocation upon said supporting members, a dog pivoted to said main slide, a sec ondary slide mounted on one of said supporting members and within said main slide, and a pivotal connection between said secondary slide and the. free terminal of said dog. 7

16. The combination with a pair of sup port-ing members, a main slide mounted for reciprocation upon said supporting members, a dog pivoted to said main slide, a secondary slide mounted on one of said supporting members and within said main slide, a pivotal connection between said secondary slide and the free terminal of said dog, and adjustable means carried by said secondary slide and operating against one of the supporting members, whereby the movement of said secondary slide is arrested at predetermined intervals.

17. The combination with a stud, a cup mounted on said stud, a stem carried by said cup and stud, and means for retaining said cup and stud in fixed co-relative positions.

18. The combination with a support, a

bowed arm mounted on said support, a spring cooperating with said arm, and a shoe carried by said arm and operable by the tension of said spring.

19. The combination with a reel, of a guide arm mounted adjacent thereto, abrake operable against said reel, and a yieldable connection between said brake and said arm.

20. The combination with a reel, of a guide arm and a brake independently mounted adjacent the said reel, and a yieldable connection between said brake and said guide arm.

21. The combination with a reel, of a stud located adjacent thereto, a guide arm pivotally mounted on said stud, a yoke mounted on said stud independently of said arm, and a yieldable connection between said yoke and said guide arm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 3rd day of August, A. D. 1911.

HENRY WEBER.

Witnessesz NINA J. HALSNE, K. W. WONNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

